finish

finish [fin′ish]

vt.

[ME finishen < extended stem of OFr finir < L finire, to end < finis, an end, limit, orig., boundary (post), something fixed in the ground < IE base * dhīgw-, to stick in > DIKE¹, L figere, FIX]

1.

a) to bring to an end; complete [to finish the work]

b) to come to the end of [to finish a book]

2. to use up; consume entirely [finish your milk]

3. to give final touches to; embellish or perfect

4. to treat (a cut edge, esp. of a garment), as by pinking, serging, or binding, in order to prevent raveling

5. to give (cloth, leather, wood, etc.) a desired surface effect

6.

a) to cause the defeat, collapse, death, etc. of

b) to render worthless, useless, helpless, etc.

vi.

1. to come to an end; terminate

2. to complete something being done

3. to complete a contest in a specified position [to finish last]

n.

1. the last part; end

2. anything used to give a desired surface effect, as paint, varnish, polish, wax, etc.

3. completeness; perfection

4. the manner or method of completion

5. the way in which the surface, as of furniture, is painted, varnished, smoothed, polished, etc.

6. refinement as in manners, speech, etc.; polish in social or cultural matters

7. defeat, collapse, etc. or that which brings it about; downfall

8. the taste a wine leaves in the mouth after it has been swallowed

9. Carpentry joiner work, as the installation of doors, stairs, panels, etc., which completes the interior of a building

SYN.- CLOSE²

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finish off

1. to end or complete

2. to kill or destroy

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finish up

1. to end or complete

2. to consume all of

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finish with

1. to end or complete

2. to end relations with; become indifferent to

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in at the finish

being present or taking part at the conclusion, as of a contest

finisher

n.